Bangladesh Shipping Corporation to Procure Two Bulk Carriers

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) is undertaking a major expansion of its fleet, with plans to acquire two bulk carriers and has prepared to sign various contracts for sixteen other ships including crude oil tankers and bulk carriers as part of a strategic move to modernise the country’s maritime transport capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign-flagged vessels.

Bulk Carrier Tender Imminent

BSC is set to issue an international tender to procure two solid bulk carriers, to be financed using its own funds. According to Commodore Mahmudul Malek, Managing Director of BSC, the tender documents have already been prepared and are awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Shipping.

The new bulk carriers will each have a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of approximately 56,000 tonnes, with key dimensions including:

• Length: 199 metres
• Beam (Width): 33 metres
• Draft: 18 metres

These vessels are designed to transport key commodities such as coal and fertiliser, and may also be chartered to international clients.

This procurement follows BSC’s 2023 agreement with China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) to purchase four vessels — two crude oil tankers (USD 73 million each) and two bulk carriers (USD 44 million each) — financed through supplier’s credit from the Export-Import Bank of China.

Return to Container Shipping with 12-Vessel Deal

In a significant move, BSC is re-entering the container shipping sector after nearly three decades. The corporation is set to acquire 12 container vessels, each with a capacity of 2,500–3,000 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units).

• Six of the ships will be financed through a government-to-government loan from South Korea under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), with an estimated cost of USD 330.32 million (approximately BDT 3,964 crore).
• The remaining six vessels are also planned to be sourced from South Korea, with procurement steps underway.

These vessels are expected to join BSC’s operational fleet by 2027 or 2028, boosting Bangladesh’s capacity to handle growing volumes of international containerised trade. This is a strategic return for BSC, which last operated container ships in the 1990s before shifting its focus to other cargo types.

Strategic Impact

These acquisitions — two bulk carriers, four ships from the China deal, and twelve container vessels — collectively represent a transformational expansion of BSC’s maritime capabilities. They will enhance Bangladesh’s self-reliance in shipping logistics, contribute to national economic development, and enable BSC to play a more prominent role in regional and global trade routes.

References:

• The Financial Express – BSC to float tenders soon to buy two bulk carriers
• The Financial Express – BSC buying four ships at past govt-negotiated high price
• India Sea Trade News – Bangladesh Shipping Corp set to return to container sector with 12-ship deal
• TBS News – Shipping Corporation plans to add 12 new vessels
• The Daily Observer – BSC plans to expand with 12 container vessels